Lessons Learned from a Dust Hazard Analysis at a Joint Venture Site in China

In 2018 Air Products acquired a Coal Gasification Joint Venture facility in China. Coal dust is a combustible dust. NFPA 652 “Standard on the Fundamentals of Combustible Dust, 2019” requires that a Dust Hazard Analysis (DHA) be completed for a facility where materials have been determined to be combustible or explosible. This paper will discuss the challenges and the lessons learned from conducting a DHA at a joint venture facility in China. Some of the challenges discussed will include dealing with cultural difference for a US based team conducting a dust hazard analysis at site in China, using a NFPA standard as a guideline at site in China, dealing with the language barrier in review meetings and in technical documents, technical challenges of conducting a DHA at an existing site, and the challenges with conducting a DHA at a joint venture site where solids handling involves more than one company.